The derogation to continue shooting pigeons attacking farm crops has been reapproved.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan had come under pressure from the IFA, Irish Country Sports Association and National Association of Regional Games Council (NARGC) to renew the derogation in light of potential crop damage.
However, the renewal had been uncertain, as Minister Noonan had repeatedly expressed his distaste for the hunting of animals.
The news will be welcomed by farmers and organisations alike.
Farmers will now have permission to protect crops from bird infestation.
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A flock of 40 sheep were attacked in Termonfeckin, Co Louth, in November. Two dogs were witnessed carrying out the attack, with one shot at the scene.
Farmers feel under siege on their own land. There was something seismic about the IFA’s recent move to tell walkers with dogs that they are no longer welcome on farms.
It comes following yet another spate of dog attacks on sheep flocks, despite years of farmers warning that something needed to change.
However, dog attacks are far from the only concern landowners have. Farmers are worried that they won’t be allowed to control pigeons and crow numbers attacking their crops.
Gun Club in Gort, Co Galway. \ Philip Doyle
Concerns are growing that control of wood pigeons by shooting will not be allowed this year.
The derogation to allow their control lapses at the end of the month.
Last year, then Minister Josepha Madigan initally failed to extend the derogation, citing lack of evidence of crop damage.
The current relevant Minister is Kilkenny Green Party TD Malcolm Noonan.
We have been carrying out control of pigeons for decades, and numbers have been steady or gently rising
Paul Carberry, chair of the Irish Country Sports Association which represents professional hunters and game shoot operators, predicts “catastrophic damage” to crops if the derogation is not renewed.